Former Admiral Is Mvp

Gagonon Leads Toledo To Title

Three years ago, goalie Dave Gagnon led the Hampton Roads Admirals to their first East Coast Hockey League championship, sharing the playoff MVP award with forward Dave Flanagan.

Two nights ago, he earned his second ECHL playoff MVP trophy after leading the Toledo Storm to its second straight Jack Riley Cup title.

``You never get tired of winning championships,'' said Gagnon, who last year was a member of the Fort Wayne Komets team that won the International League title. ``You don't run out of the emotion. I won my first championship in Hampton, and now I've won my third. It's still a rush.''

The Storm won this year's title by beating Raleigh 4-1 in a best-of-7 series.

How hot was Gagnon? Hot enough that he started all 14 playoff games and effectively benched another former Admirals goalie, Nick Vitucci, one of the best big-game goalies in ECHL history.

In 14 postseason games, Gagnon and the Storm lost just once in regulation and once in overtime. After dropping Game 2 of the first-round series to Dayton, Gagnon won nine straight before losing Game 3 of the final to Raleigh in overtime.

For the postseason, he was 12-1-1, with a 2.70 goals-against average and a save percentage of .918.

``Our offense and our defense were playing so well that my job was easy,'' Gagnon said. ``Even on power-plays, I didn't have to worry about rebounds. I would have to make six or seven saves a night that were tough, and the rest were average.''

Gagnon, 26, was under contract to the Detroit Red Wings organization this season but is now a free agent. He plans to go to a training camp with an NHL team next season, but for now he has more immediate plans after returning to Fort Wayne, where he now makes his home.

``I take my summers off and enjoy them,'' he said. ``I'm going to kick my shoes off, relax with my girlfriend out on the lake and not worry about anything. That's what I plan to do for a few weeks now.''